pOcpac iPac Road Pac combi, pOcpac iPac Road Pac combi... try saying that a few times after a glass or two of sherry.

To decipher: pOcpac (henceforth referred to as Pocpac, because that cap-O is just ridiculous) is a company formed by two South African brothers, who were caught out riding in a storm and wondered why there wasn't a neat, convenient waterproof pouch for your valuables on the market. iPac is the smaller of their neat, convenient waterproof pouch, for iPhones and other similar devices; the Road Pac part refers to a larger pouch, designed to take all the other gubbins that you'd usually shove in your pocket or saddlebag unprotected from the elements. There are even a few stylised pictures on the front depicting the things - inner tube, CO2 canister and nozzle, tyre levers - that you might want to keep in there. Neat, huh.

Both have got nicely rounded edges - the so-called RES, Round Edge Seal System - to stop them snagging on the way in and out of jersey pockets, and the company reckons the plastic becomes softer, but not less waterproof, with time. Less believably, they claim the pouch "becomes smaller when filled". How that works, I don't know - unless they simply mean "put something in and there's less space".

Despite it looking small, the iPac does fit an iPhone rather well, and you can use your touchscreen through the clear plastic. Not sure you'll be able to take pictures with your cameraphone inside, though.

The larger Pocpac does indeed fit the illustrated items snugly, although keeping my tyre levers dry has never been a priority. That said, it stops you packing too much - and keeps everything together. And there's a whole host of things you might want to protect on a ride - you're not limited to those pictured on the pouch.

But the all important question: do they work? I rode with these pouches on several long wet rides, including in the north of Scotland, where the rain is no joke, and my bits did stay dry. Not those bits, keep your mind out of the gutter.

Since these close with a zip, there is a small gap where the two ends of the zip course meet the end of the pouch: the zip, being bulky, is never going to get to the end of the run easily. I tried closing it tight, and only succeeded in ripping the plastic a bit. This wasn't just me being over-zealous. I lent one to someone else, and they managed to do the same thing.

So these aren't 100% watertight, and if you're getting absolutely drenched, or going underwater, there is a chance your things would get wet. And especially if you break it. There are press-fit plastic pouches that would avoid this (though these too have their problems - they're fiddly). Or buy a pouch used by campers, or spelunkers. Folks that like exploring caves.

Pocpacs are cheap, cheerful and convenient, if a bit flawed in their design. Be careful with them, and they should see you through the rain. I'd use my one again, except I broke it.

Verdict

Neat and convenient waterproof pouch, but a bit fragile.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pocpac iPac Road Pac combi

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Says the website:

pOcpac is THE ULTIMATE WATER RESISTANT CYCLING POUCH.....the sensible and stylish alternative to the saddlebag

The clever pOcpac water resistant lifestyle / cycling pouch is manufactured from recyclable materials which has memory and elasticity, and becomes smaller when filled. The pOcpac water resistant lifestye and cycling pouches will fit the majority of cycling jersey pockets with our newly designed RES system, Round-Edge-Seal system. Over time this clever water resistant pouch becomes softer and therefore easier to insert and remove your vital personal and cycling items from the water resistant pOcpac. There's no longer any need for an aesthetically challenged saddlebag weighing down your expensive carbon frame and wheels.

Its the iPac that is most revolutionary – you can keep your iPhone, Blackberry or other smartphone dry and still be able to use it when on the move, or stopped for a cafe break. What's not to like? Functional and affordable.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

There's nothing amazingly technical about them, but the website continues:

Wondering whether the "becomes smaller when filled" is the PR/marketing way of saying that the footprint of the bag reduces when used, as the increase in height draws in the sides of the bag.
(Chalk me up as another baggie user.)

Here's how we roll at road.cc: every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a real insight into whether it works or not. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective, and we strive to ensure that all opinions expressed are backed up by facts, but reviews are always a reviewer's informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores. It reflects both a product's function and value. Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. Here's what they mean:

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